Linotype-machine.



T.S.HOMAN&

LINOTYPE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1912.

1,1 30,690, Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

' HNVENTOR Thamas flqfiemans.

an erases arena ea nin THOMAS S, HUMANS, F HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, T0 INTERNATIQNAL TYPESETTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW Y ORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION (F NEW YORK,

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Application fileriJuly'25, 1912. Serial No. 711,516.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. Homers, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hempstead, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Linotype-Machines, of which-the following is a specification.

, The present invention relates to improvements in linotype machines,'and the primary object of the invention is to provide improvements in assembling elevators of the type adapted to receive and assemble at different levels matrices bearing two or more characters, the rail for supportingthe matrices at the uper level, according to the present invention, being continuous or free from joints or interruptions, thereby avoldmg the presence of shoulders orobstructions which would be liable to retard or arrest the movement of the matrices and, thus lnterfere with v the assembling of a line.

, structs the matrices while passin Modern linotype machines use matrices each bearing a plurality of characters, two characters being most generally used on each matrix, and such charactersare assembled at diflerent levels in order tobring the character to be used into correct alinement preparatory to the transfer of the line to the casting mechanism. In lmotype machmes employing multiple letter matr1 ces, 11; 1S customary 'to make the assembling elevator with stationary rails to support the matrices at the lower level and to provide an upper rail to support or position the matrices at.

the upper level, and such upper rail is usually made of two parts, the part nearer to the receiving end beingrelatively'short and is arranged to be withdrawn in order to-permit'the incoming matrices to drop past the upper rail to the lower rail. Experience has shown that a shoulder develops between the vtwo sections of the upper rail due to wear. or other causes, and such shoulder obbetween the two parts of the upper rail, t us interfering with the assembling of the matrlces. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, this upper rail is made 1n one 1ece and embodies a strip of yieldable or resl lent material which: rovides a continuous or uninterrupted sur .ace from end to end for engagement of the matrices, thatportlon of the strip adjacent to the matrix-recelvmg end of the elevator belng movable to and Specification of Letters Patent.

mo'rYrn-Macnmn Patented Mar, 2, 19115.,

rices, means being provided for forcing this end of the strip composing the rail into the path of the matrices when it is desired to assemble the matrices on the upper rail.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements, and Com binatlons and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the-claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 115 a perspective view of the upper portion 0f the assembling elevator of a linotype ma chine embodyin the present invention, the elevator being viewed from the rear; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the elevator showing the back thereof removed; Fig. 3 represents an end view of the elevator looking toward the matrix-receiving end thereof.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in'theaccompanying drawin and will be hereinafter described in detai although it will be understood that the invention in broadest sense'is not restricted to the particular construction shown, as equivalent constructions may be used to produce thesame results;

i In the pgesent instance, 1 and 2 designate the front and rear side members of the assembling' elevator as usually employed on linotype machines, the matrices X being fed to the receiving end of the elevator, after being delivered from the magazine by manipulation of the keyboard, by the usual traveling belt 3 passing over the pulley 4, and the star Wheel 5, the latter being arranged at the entrance to the elevator. The members 1 and 2 of the elevator are provided as usualwith'the oppositely positioned lower rails 6 and 7 which serve to support the matrices at the lower level, as shown diagrammatically in Figs. 2 and 3. The member 1 of the elevator is shown provided with the usual hinged section 8 which may be swung forward by the operator when it is 'tions by hand; The forward or receiving end of the hingedvsection- 8is shown provided with the usual detent 9 to prevent retrograde movement of the matrices as they enter the elevator, a similar oppositely positioned detent 1 0 being' shown on the upper edge of the elevator member 2 for the same purpose.- V

The upper rail which serves to support or position the'matrices at the uppenlevel embodies, in the present instance, a strip 11, the inner edge of which pro ects into the passageway for the matrices, and the maJor portionof this strip beyond the matrix-receiving end of'the elevator is securedun fixed position by a bar or clamp 12 which is secured to the body portion of the elevator member 1 by the screws 13. That portion 14 of the. strip adjacent to the matrixreceiving end of the elevator is bendable or yieldable or otherwise movable in a manner which enables it to move toand from a position to engage and receive the incoming matrices at the upper level or to clear the incoming vmatrices and permit them to assemble on the lower rails as may be desired. Preferably, the strip composing the rail is made of resilient or springy material, and the forward end 1% thereof has an inherent tendency to curl upwardly so as to normally occupy substantially the position shown by the full lines in Fig. While thisportion 14 of the strip composing the upper rail'is in tliisposition, the incoming matrices will pass freely to the lower rails and will assemble thereon. When, however, this portion of the strip composing the upper rail is flattened or straightened out so as to occupy a position in alinement with the remainder of the strip asindicated by the dotted lines, in Fig. 2 and; the full lines in Fig. 1, the incoming matrices will then engage thisend of-thestrip and will be thereby positioned and supported atthe upper level. The-clamp or bar 12 terminates short of the portion 14 of the strip to permit .the same] to operate in the manner described. A device, however, is provided whereby the portion 14 may be flattened to bring it into operative relation to the incoming matricesand may be permitted to curl or move out of operative position with respect to the incoming matrices, a slide 15 being provided in the present instance which is movable longitudinally of the strip, and rectil1near movement of this slide may be insured for example by providing the slide with an extension 16 which reciprocates beneath an overhanging portion 17 of the clamp 12, and a knob or handle 18 may be attached to the slide to enable the operator to manipulate the slide and thereby cause the matrices to assemble at the upper or lower level at will.

I claim as myinventiom- 1. In a linotype machine, an assembling elevator embodying rails for supporting matrices at different levels, one of said rails having a portion bendable vertically to and from operative position to control the assembling of the matrices at the different levels.

2. An assembling elevator for linotype machines embodying upper and lower rails for supporting matrices at different levels, the upper rail being in one piece and having its receiving end bendable vertically to and from, operative. position to control the asand from a. position to receive and support the incoming matrices whereby the latter may be assembled on or beneath said rail. 4; In a linotype .machine and in combination with an assembling elevator for. receiving and carrying matrices having a plurality of characters, a rail in said elevator for supporting the matrices in an upper position, one end of said rail having-a tendency to spring out of the path of the incoming matrices, and means to force said rail into the path=of the incoming matrices whereby the matrices may be assembled on or under the rail at will. i

5. In a linotype machine and in combination withan assembling elevator for receiv-, ing and carrying matrices having a plurality of characters, of a rail in said elevator forsupporting the matrices in an upper position, said rail having a continuous. supporting surface and beingv made of elastic material having an inherent tendency to curl or bend out of the path of incoming matrices, and means to force said rail into the path of the incoming matrices at .will.

6,- The combination with an assembling elevator for linotype machines adapted to cooperate with matrices each having a plurality of characters at diiferentlevels, of a rail in theelevator for assembling and supporting the matrices at anupper level, said rail composed of a continuous strip of resilient material, the matrix-receiving end of which has a tendency to curl upwardly and thereby permit incoming matrices to "assemble beneath such rail, and means for straightening such end of the strip in a manner to receive and amemble incoming matrices thereon.

-In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

, THOMAS S. HOMAN'S.

Witnesses W. S. SCUDDER, EDWARD M. GooDBonY. 

